Effects of Weight Control Program with Line Application on Food Consumption Behavior and Physical Activity Behavior among Overweight Secondary School Students, Chonburi Province

Abstract

                This quasi-experimental two-group study aimed to examine the effects of a weight control program combined with the use of the LINE application on consumption behaviors and physical activity behaviors among overweight secondary school students in Chonburi Province. The sample consisted of 72 students in grades 7–9 during the 2024 academic year who were selected by simple random sampling based on the following criteria 1) being overweight or obese, 2) ability to read and write and 3) owning a smartphone and assigned to an experimental group and a control group, 36 students in each group. The experimental group received an 8-week weight-control program comprising education on obesity, nutrition based on the nutrition flag, promotion of physical activity, and social support via the LINE application. A questionnaire on consumption behaviors and physical activity behaviors was used as the research instrument with a content validity (CVI) of .94 and Cronbach's alpha coefficient of .85 and .80, respectively.  Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and comparison of mean scores within and between groups by dependent and independent t-tests.

               The results showed that, after the intervention, the experimental group had significantly higher mean scores for consumption behaviors and physical activity behaviors than before the intervention and then the control group at the 0.05 level, indicating that the weight control program combined with the LINE application was effective in modifying health behaviors among overweight students. Health personnel can apply this program in collaboration with teachers to organize activities that effectively promote changes in students' dietary and physical activity behaviors in school settings.